Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a staple food of Pakistan and constitutes 60% of the daily diet of a human being in Pakistan. Production of wheat can be improved by using marginal lands and the salt affected areas by silicon supplementation and improving fertilizers. As Nanotechnology has brought revolutions in agriculture, therefore silica nanoparticles (SiO2 Nps) have been used in this study to reduce the salinity stress. Seeds of four wheat varieties, Umeed and Raskoh (salt tolerant) and Zarghoon and Shahkar (salt sensitive) were grown in Hydroponics. Hoagland's Nutrient Solution (HNS) was used as control while treatments included CRF (Controlled Release Fertilizer), CRF with SiO2 Nps, sodium silicate, SiO2 Nps and silicic acid. Salt stress of 100 mM NaCl was induced. Data was recorded for TDS, germination rate, length of root and shoot, fresh and dry weight and chlorophyll content. All results were statistically significant at 0.05 level, sodium silicate and SiO2 Nps were found to control salinity. Excellent results were achieved using CRF and CRF containing SiO2Nps. It has been concluded that SiO2 Nps or its CRF can be useful to compete the salinity and drought stress for growing wheat in the marginal and salt affected land in Pakistan.

The research was conducted to evaluate the effects of road side dust pollution on fruit trees of Miyyaghundi (Quetta) and Ghanjdori (Mastung), Pakistan. The data were collected from the two orchards near the road where the road construction was in process. The effect of road side dust was observed on the leaves of trees growing at the edges of orchards as compare to those trees growing in the center of orchards. The highest percentage of dust was observed on the leaves of Pyrus malus L. (apple) which was (1.05 g) grown at the edges of an orchard compared to those leaves growing in the center of an orchard. The lowest dust (0.08 g) was observed on the leaves of Prunus domestica L. (plum) that were away from the road. Closure of stomata was observed highly affecting the trees grown at the edges of orchards compared to the central ones. The highest mean for closed stomata was (419.3) recorded in P. malus, grown at the edges of an orchard and the lowest mean (75) was recorded in P. domestica. The fruit production was also observed, the highest mean was recorded in Apple (pyrus malus L.) before road construction in central trees of Miyyaghundi which was (200 kg). The lowest mean for fruit production was recorded in Apple (pyrus malus L.) trees grown at the edges of an orchard that was (15 kg).

No abstract

Background: Resistin, a novel hormone, got its recognition as a regulator of lipid metabolism in obese rodents. Human researches proved its role mainly in inflammation and to lesser extent in obesity. Aim: To observe the relationship of serum resistin with body mass index (BMI) and lipid levels in hypertensives and ischemic heart disease patients as compared to normal subjects. Methodology: Eighty participants between the ages of thirty to fifty five years were distributed in four groups including normal subjects, first time diagnosed patients of hypertension, and first time diagnosed hypertensive cases of stable angina pectoris and myocardial infarction respectively. After history and general physical examination, fasting blood samples of the participants were tested for serum resistin by using the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay technique and lipid profile with commercially available enzymatic kits. Analysis of the data was performed by SPSS version17.0. Results: In patients of research groups, statistically raised levels (mean±SD) of BMI, and serum values of resistin, triglycerides, low-density lipoproteins (LDL) while decreased high density lipoproteins (HDL) levels were documented in comparison with healthy subjects. Conclusions: There are significantly higher values of body mass index, blood resistin, triglycerides and LDL while lower serum HDL levels in hypertensives and patients of ischemic heart disease as compared to normal participants. Keywords: Resistin, ischemic heart disease, lipid profile, body mass index

Plant cells respond to stresses and exogenous environmental stimuli. Production of altered levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is one of a typical cellular responses against such stimuli. These responses are detectable through various techniques including luminol-based bioassays. Luminol-based bioassays provide an excellent opportunity for detection of ROS in plant leaf tissue when challenged with some exogenous stimuli like phytohormones, cytokinins, auxins, ABA, etc. The luminol-based protocol in point aims at measuring changes in the HO levels of Arabidopsis leaf discs when exposed to phytohormone cytokinins. However, utility of the luminol-based ROS determination protocol is quite wide. We specifically optimized this protocol to quantify the effect of cytokinins on ROS production by Arabidopsis leaves.